Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-12-14
BLAIR BILL DEBATE.
REMARKS OF OUR SENATORS YEsrER-
DAY-ALM0sr A DIFFICULTY.
The House Committecs-Ble Election Of Senator
on observation-disclosures
Repeal

The Senate was called to order yester-
day at - o'clock M. by Lieutenant
Governor John L. Massey, and prayer
was offered by Rev. Robert 7. Kerr,
d. d., of the First Presbyterian church.
Nearly every member Of the body was
present, and there were quite a number
of visitors in the chamber.
ELECTION or SENATOR.
Mr.. RYAN informed the Senate OF the
adoption by the House OF joint resolu-
ton fixing next Tuesday the Goth in
slant, at ~ o'clock, as the time for the
two houses in joint assembly to go into
the election of United States senator
to succeed Mr.. Riddleberger.
The Senate concurred in the resolu-
ton, and Mr.. Moore SO informed the
House.
CODE AMENDMENTS.
A message was received from the
House Of Delegates by Mr.. Hay, in
forming the Senate Of the adoption by
the House of O Joint resolution pub
ished in House report relating to
amendments to the Code.
Mr. Heaton, who at the last session
was chairman Of the Committee on Re-
vision of the Code, advocated the adop-
ton OF the resolution, and it was carried
unanimously.
Mr. Gordon informed the Senate that
the House had adopted the usual rules
for the government of the joint Assem-
bly, in the election of United States
senator. The Senate Goncurred in
them.
ELECTORAL BOARDS.
Mr. Dalton offered a joint resolution
which, under the rules, lies over for one
day, prevailing that on Monday next the
General Assembly Will proceed with the
election Of electoral boards for the seve-
raj counties and cities Of the Common
wealth as at present provided for by law.
BILLS INTRODUCED AND REFERRED.
BY Mr.. Barnes: To Incorporate the
CopperhOuk Springs Company.
Bv the same: To incorporate the
Union Construction Company.
BY Mr.. Duane: For the relief of j.
VI. Davis of excessive land assessment.
BY Mr.. Acker To authorize the crea-
ton of Judgment bond and to provide for
their recOrdation aud enforcement.
BY Mr.. Lovenstein A bill appro-
priating $50. 900 to the Eastern Lunatic
Asylum for building purposes, accompa-
MED by the petition of the Board of
Directors asking for the appropriation to
replace the building destroyed by fire IN
1885.
BY Mr.. Rhea: To incorporate the
Bristol and South Atlantic Railroad
Company. The corporatOrs named are
II. W. Bates, John Nj. Bailey, Il. A.
Ayers, J. Wilder, William ID. Jones, J.
+. hicks, and $. Lawrence French. The
object OF this company is to secure a
line of railroad from the magnetic IRON
ore districts of North Carolina to any
point on the Ohio river. The capital
stock Of the said company is not to ex-
coed $4,000 per mile for each mile
actually constructed, to be divided into
shares of $l00 each.
BY Mr.. Ellyson TO amend and re-
enact an act to provive for the assess
mcnt of taxes on persons, property, and
incomes and imposing taxes thereon for
the support of the government and
public schools, &c. This amendment
refers to peddlers' licenses.
BY Mr.. Rhea To amend an act to in
the Bristol-Goodson Water
Company.
THE BLAIR BILL.
As the first matter of unfinished bust
ness came up the preamble and joint
offered by Mr.. Cornett on
Monday and published in the Dispatch
Of yesterday directing the Virginia sena-
tors and requesting her representatives
in Congress to have what is known as
the Blair bill passed.
Mr.. Gordon moved that the preamble,
which arraigns the Democratic party for
the defeat of the measure<be stricken
out.
Mr.. Heaton moved as a substitute that
the resolution be referred to the Com
miitee on Courts.
Mr. Hubbard (Republican) warmly ad-
the adoption of the preamble
and resolution. If there was anything
in the preamble that was not pleasant to
bis Democratic friends on the floor, it
could be changed, but he did hope
the issue would be met and the
resolution be adopted. The Demo
cratic party, ne claimed. had ignored
their pledges, both to this measure and
to the oneoffered Mt the last session pro-
posing to furnish free school-boOks. In.
the name Of the children of the Com
he appealed to the Senate to
adopt the measure.
Mr. Gordon had anticipated the fact
that the preamble was injected into the
resolution to precipitate political dis
cussion. He refuted the statement that
the Democratic party was responsiblefor
the non passage by Congress of this mat
ter. He insisted on Mr.. Heaton's mo-
ton TO refer.
Mr. Williams, in reply to the Senator
from Buckingham, said that the Demo-
cratic party had never lodged this issue,
but on the contrary had sent la similar re-
solution, emitting the preamble, to Con-
press; that the only person who bad ever
lodged this issue was, If his intimate
political associates were TO be believed,
the Republican memberOf the Senate who
in the committee or cloak room.
The Democratic party had, in a largely
attended convention, incorporated this
Is plank in their platform, while
in this same good year of 1887 the
did not have the face to hold
4 convention at all, but this same skulking
boss held it all TO himself in his home. Mr..
Williams said that if the Democratic par
~ had failed TO give school children free
books, there are more schools in Virginia,
more children and books in them, and
more moneyis beingappropriatedto them
ban ever before.
He offered the following substitute,
ind said he hoped it would be adopted,
md that there would be no more clap
rap political debate on SO important a
subject:
Resoiocd That the senators from Virginia be
instructed, and the members OF the House Of
Representatives In Congress from Virginia be
eqt'sted. 70 vote for Federal aid 10 public FREQ
chOOls and 10 support the measure commonly
,nown as the Bair bill, or some other better
measure.
Mr.. Heaton withdrew his motion to
'efer in favor OF Mr.. Williams's substi-
ute.
Mr.. HUBBARD again advocated the adop-
ion OF the resolution, and insisted that